Gezicht op het Mennonietenpad, buiten de Wetering-Barrière in Amsterdam 1860 - 1885

This stereoscopic photograph of Mennonietenpad, Amsterdam, was created by Pieter Oosterhuis using the wet collodion process. This technique, popular in the mid-19th century, involved coating a glass plate with light-sensitive chemicals, exposing it in a camera, and then developing it immediately. The sepia tones and soft focus, inherent to the wet collodion process, lend the scene a picturesque, almost dreamlike quality. The choice of this process over others available at the time speaks to Oosterhuis’s artistic intent. The image is not just a record, but a deliberate construction of reality. The amount of labor invested in the production process reflects a significant commitment to image-making as an art form, rather than purely a means of documentation. By considering the specific qualities of the medium, we can appreciate this photograph not only as a glimpse into the past, but also as a carefully crafted object. This challenges traditional distinctions between photography, craft, and fine art.